Descriptions of British Diptera. 



155 



labrum short and horny, 

 placed at the base of the la- 

 bium, the apex notched (Fig. 

 2, b ;) palpi Particulate, 

 the third joint ovate, pu- 

 bescent, (Fig. 2. a ;) scu- 

 tellum semicircular, armed 

 with two spines. 



The genus Clitellaria of Meigen corresponds to that named Ephip- 

 pium by Latreille. The former of these authors includes in it the 

 Nemotelua villosus of Fabr. and two other species which are desti- 

 tute of spines both on the thorax and scutellum, besides differ- 

 ing in some other particulars from the insect described below. As 

 it seems improper to associate species so dissimilar in structure, the 

 genus has been defined above, so as to restrict its application to the 

 kinds, provided with a spinous scutellum, all of which, with a single 

 exception, are exotic. The name used by Latreille may be applied 

 to the others. 



1. Clitellaria Ephippium. 



Musca ephippium, Gmelin, Donovan, xvi. pi. 559 — Stratiomys ephippium, 



Fabr Ephippium thoracicum, Latr. Gen. iv. 276 — Clit. Ephippium, 



Meig. Zwei. iii. 122, Stephens, Catal. 



Head black, the female with two small white spots on the fore- 

 head ; thorax clothed with silky pubescence of a bright-red colour, 

 the breast and sides black ; before the insertion of the wing on each 

 side, there is a pretty long projecting spine ; scutellum and its two 

 spines, likewise the abdomen and legs black ; halteres yellow ; wings 

 reddish-brown. 4^-5 lines. (See Fig. 3 of the above cut. J 



This insect is apparently scarce in Britain, but it is sometimes 

 found near London. " Coombe Wood by George Milne, Esq. — Kent," 

 — Donovan, I. c. 



Genus OXYCERA, Meig. 

 Antennae rather shorter than the head, approximating at the 



base, but diverging anteriorly, the two first joints nearly equal, 



subcylindrical, somewhat 

 widened at the apex, and 

 pilose, the third as long as 

 both the others, tapering 

 to the extremity, and di- 

 vided into four rings, the 

 apex with a two-jointed 



style, generally inserted on the back just before the summit, (Fig. 



